Rockford loses to ThunderBolts
July 16, 2005 - Frontier League (FL)
Rockford RiverHawks News Release
CRESTWOOD, Ill. - Vince Lombardi would say that the RiverHawks didn't lose; they just ran out of time.
Rockford's comeback fell short Saturday in Windy City, losing to the ThunderBolts, 10-8, evening the series at a game apiece. The âHawks were trailing 10-3 after three innings but battled back so that they had the tying run at the plate in each of the final three innings.
The RiverHawks took an early 1-0 lead when Brian Baron singled home Doug Schutt in the top of the first. But in the bottom of the frame, the first three batters all reached and then Nick Klusaw hit a grand slam to give the ThunderBolts a 4-1 lead-a lead they would not give up.
In the second, back-to-back RBI singles by Jason Crosland and Justin Niefer made it 6-2 and forced âHawks starter Derek Roper (4-3) to an early shower. In his shortest outing of the year, Roper lasted just 1 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on seven hits. His successor, Adam Kroft, didn't fair much better, throwing 1 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on three hits.
After Aaron Meachran hit a solo home run in the top of the third, Windy City put up another four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Klusaw singled home a run for his fifth RBI of the night and Justin Schuda hit a two-run triple.
All the scoring after the third was by the âHawks, starting with an RBI sacrifice fly by Ashley Farr in the fifth. In the sixth, three runs scored on consecutive doubles by Olmo Rosario and Baron. Genoa native Jeremy Busch hit a solo homer in the seventh, the first of his professional career, to pull Rockford within two at 10-8.
Schutt left the game in the fourth after colliding with Busch in the outfield trying to catch a fly ball. His status is not yet known.
The RiverHawks conclude their series in Windy City at 5:05 p.m. Sunday. The 'Hawks are the defending champions of the Frontier League, a 12-team independent professional baseball league in its 13th season. All games are broadcasted live on WRHL-FM, 102.3 - the Hub.
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